Can't Afford Mistakes.

Chapter Eight

Arabella.

"Did she just hang up on me," I ask in bewilderment.

"You mad bro," Brett sarcastically retorts, eyes glued to his computer screen.

"Brett, honestly what are you, 13? No one has used that phrase since eighth grade," I sneer sending him a menacing glare.

He let's out a little chuckle before motioning for me to come to the desk where his laptop sits, "You may want to see this."

I stop my pacing immediately, snapping my head in Brett's direction. He pushes himself away from the desk slightly, allowing me to view the screen.

"What exactly am I looking at," I bitterly ask as my eyes fall on my twins face. Lucas stands next to an average height man with medium skin and curly hair. They hold drinks in their hands with their arms around a pair of girls. The caption reads, "my manz 'n some dimes 😈💯."

"The boy tagged," Brett slowly says clicking on the username below, "is Ryan Christian."

"I can't do this anymore," I exclaim, dropping to the floor. "I've tried to hard to distance myself from everything with Lucas, now my whole world is crumbling within the span of six hours."

Brett removes himself from his chair to take a seat next to me. "Arabella," he sighs while giving me a sincere look, "I think it's time to tell me what happened between Lucas and yourself."

I advert my eyes to the floor at the mention of Lucas's name. I shift uncomfortably for a minute before I lay down, stomach to the floor with my arms folded under my head. I take a deep breath before starting to explain to Brett what happened almost four years ago, "As you know, my biological parents gave me up, but we were still a close family. I got birthday cards from them, we went on vacations together, we spent countless hours together. When I was 10, Lucas and I became aware of our powers; being able to manipulate people with a simple thought or become something outside of your body, that is both terrifying and thrilling for a 10 year old. Our parents told us we had to keep our powers a secret. That's a lot to take in for a child.

By the time I was able to figure out my powers on my own at 15, Lucas was using his powers for his own personal advantage. He robbed banks, stole from stores, even murdered. All my parents ever did was love him and he turned around and killed them. Lucas killed my parents Brett, right in front of me, and there was nothing I could do. I had to hide my grief outside of my house because none of my friends even knew they existed. Lucas should've killed me too. He didn't obviously, but I wish he would have. I wouldn't have to live in this constant state of fear and live with the regret of not trying to stop him. Everyone says Lucas was born lucky, they say I'm lucky to be alive. I was the one no one wanted, the runt, the left over.

After my parents death, I never used my powers until today. Just the thought of using them makes my stomach turn. I've distanced myself from my mom and dad's families. I rebuilt my life around the false hope that I could lead a normal life, but as always, Lucas comes and has to have his way and make my life a living hell."

By the time I finish telling Brett about my past, all my limbs are limp and numb. Brett puts his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, before rubbing comforting circles on my back. As his fingers trace my spine, I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"You know," Brett whispers, causing me turn my head from the bend of my arm to look at him. "You can't blame yourself forever. You were only 15."

"That's the lie I tell myself everyday," I sigh, resting my head back in my arms.

"Arabella, look at me," Brett says both sternly and sympathetically.

I groan and turn my head, instantly meeting Brett's impossibly green eyes. His face bares an unreadable expression. He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, leaving his lips barely parted. My eyes follow his jaw line back up to his eyes. Brett's eyebrows are knitted together in the center of his forehead & his lips are pulled into a thin line.